Page:Notes and Queries - Series 12 - Volume 7.djvu/304

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NOTES AND QUERIES. [12 s. vii. SEPT. 25, 1920.


with the version of the Denny second quarter- ing (presumably Danny ancient, or cle Dene) given in Add. MS. 1912-6, and in Vincent's MS., College of Arms, I-II-III, 156, viz., a jesse dancettee between three choughs. Regarding this Denny, de Deene, Windsor problem, Dr. J. Horace Round, of whose opinion in these matters one speaks "with a respect verging on awe," has written as follows :

" Your ' N. & Q.' paper seems to establish that the first quarter is a Windsor coat, while, as to the second, I think with you that it seems to be based on one of the Dean, &c., coats which you cite .... I believe that you are one of the few genealogists who are anxious to get at the facts, whether welcome or not."

In his 'Origin of the FitzGeralds,' in The Ancestor, Dr. Round quotes evidence which seems to show that the salt ire coat, now borne (with various modifications) by the FitzGeralds, Windsors, Ducketts and Denny s, was used as a family coat as early as 1176. Is there any evidence of the similar use of any other extant bearing at so early a date ? H. L. L. D.

  • BIRDS IN THE HIGH HALL-GARDEN.' In

the portion of Mrs. Asquith's reminiscences which appeared in The Sunday Times of Aug, 29, the writer relates Tennyson's indig- nation when a young lady, to whom he had been reading 'Maud,' answered his question as to which birds were calling to Maud by suggesting nightingales. " Fool ! " said the poet, " Rooks of course ! "

I notice that in ' Tennyson and his Friends ' no less a person than Edward Fitzgerald differed from both the poet and the young lady. He was quite positive that it is the thrush that calls "Maud, Maud." " I have heard it a hundred times on a summer's evening," he declared.

Doubtless the young lady was wrong, but which of the poets is correct V Tennyson was such a close student of nature that one is inclined to accept his view.

W. H. GlNGELL. 8 East Parade, Leeds.

KIDS = KID-GLOVES. The 'N.E.D.' gives a reference dated 1686, which apparently relates not to gloves, but to boots ; then no example until Thackeray, 1837. Allan Ramsay, who d. 1758, set. 71, in his ' Tar- tana, or The Plaid,' has these lines : If in white kids her taper fingers move, Or unconfin'd jet through the sable glove.

RICHARD JL THORNTON. Portland, Oregon,


We must request correspondents desiring in- formation on family matters of only private interest to affix their name's and addresses to their queries,, in order that answers may be sent to them direet.


ST. THOMAS A BECKET AS PATRON OF LONDON. Can any reader . of 'N. & Q.' inform me at what date St. Thomas- a Becket came to be regarded as an addi- tional patron saint of London ?

On the Mayoralty Seal made in 1381, and still in daily use, a figure wearing a mitre is seated beside St. Paul, and this, according to the guide to Guildhall, represents St. Thomas a Becket "although sometimes mistaken for St. Peter." The contemporary account of this seal being first brought into use, however, distinctly states that the figures are those of St. Peter and St. Paul (Letter-Book H. fol. cxxxii.). Up to the time of the Reformation the reverse of the Common Seal bore a view of the city, and a figure of St. Thomas enthroned, with the legend: "Cease not, Thomas, to guard m- who brought thee forth " an allusion to the saint having been born in the city. I shall be grateful for any information on this subject. R. H. ROBERTS.

Hall Lane. Upminster.

ADMIRAL HOSIER'S FAMILY. Wanted' references to the Admiral'^ pedigree and arms, and descent, with dates, of his supposed grand -niece Margaret, who married Edmond Donelan of Hills wood. She was daughter of James Hosier of Hollywood, co. Galway, who was, I fancy, a settler from England. The Admiral flourished 1673- 1727. Hyacinth, son of Edmond Donelan,. refers to "" the widow Hosier's executors " in a letter of 1818. JOHN WARDELL,.

The Abbey, Shanagolden, co. Limerick.

"HEIGHTEM, TIGHTEM, AND SCRUB." Will some reader be good enough to tell me the origin of this expression, meaning holiday, afternoon and everyday attire. My cousin's- great-grandfather had three wigs so called,, and as he died at the end of the eighteenth century, the phrase must be at least one hundred and fifty years old, and was in common use in certain families up to about 1870. Xo young person of the present: day appears to be familiar with it. I can. find neither of the three words in the 'O.E.D.,' but "scrub " is given as an obsolete verb, meaning "to- go in mean.